For Release: Wednesday, August 19, 2015
MOUNTAIN-PLAINS INFORMATION OFFICE: Kansas City, Mo.
Technical information: (816) 285-7000 [email protected]
Media contact:
(816) 285-7000
15-1595-KAN
www.bls.gov/regions/mountain-plains
Consumer Price Index, Denver-Boulder-Greeley – First Half 2015
Prices increased 1.0 percent from the first half of 2014 to the first half of 2015
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Denver-Boulder-Greeley, Colo.,
metropolitan area increased 1.0 percent from the first half of 2014 to the first half of 2015, the U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Stanley W. Suchman noted that higher costs for
shelter (5.5 percent) were largely responsible for the overall increase. Costs for energy fell 21.7 percent,
food prices rose 1.5 percent, and the all items less food and energy index advanced 3.2 percent.
Food
Food prices rose 1.5 percent from the first half of 2014 to the first half of 2015, compared to a 2.0-percent
gain in the same period one year ago. Costs for food away from home led the advance, rising 2.9 percent
over the year. Higher prices for food at home (0.9 percent) also contributed to the increase. Comparatively,
from the first half of 2013 to the first half of 2014, costs for food away from home rose 1.3 percent and
prices for food at home were up 2.2 percent.
Energy
The energy index, which includes motor fuel and household fuels, decreased 21.7 percent from the first half
of 2014 to the first half of 2015, following a gain of 3.9 percent in the same period one year ago. Falling
prices for motor fuel (-32.4 percent), most of which occurred in the most recent six months of the period,
were largely responsible for the decline in the energy component. The over-the-year drop in the motor fuel
index was the largest recorded since 2009. Lower prices for utility (piped) gas service (-10.8 percent) and
electricity (-1.8 percent) also contributed to the decrease. During the same period one year ago, motor fuel
costs declined 0.6 percent, while the indexes for utility (piped) gas service and electricity rose 18.1 and 3.7
percent, respectively.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy rose 3.2 percent from the first half of 2014 to the first half of
2015. Shelter costs had the greatest upward impact with an increase of 5.5 percent after rising 5.0 percent in
the same period one year ago.
The Denver CPI-U stood at 238.086 for the first half of 2015. This means that a market basket of goods and
services that cost $100.00 in the 1982-84 base period cost $238.09 in the first half of 2015. Because
metropolitan area CPI data are not adjusted for seasonal price variation, consumers and businesses should
be cautious in drawing conclusions about long-term retail price trends from short-term changes in the area
indexes.
CPI-W
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Denver-BoulderGreeley, Colo., metropolitan area for the first half of 2015 was 228.062. The CPI-W increased 0.8 percent
from the first half of 2014 to the first half of 2015.
The Consumer Price Index for the Second Half of 2015 is scheduled to be released in January 2016.
Technical Note
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in prices over time in a fixed market
basket of goods and services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups: (1)
a CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) which covers approximately 89 percent of the total population and
(2) a CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) which covers 28 percent of the total
population. The CPI-U includes, in addition to wage earners and clerical workers, groups such as
professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-employed, short-term workers, the unemployed,
and retirees and others not in the labor force.
The CPI is based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels, transportation fares, charges for doctors' and
dentists' services, drugs, and the other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. Each
month, prices are collected in 87 urban areas across the country from about 6,000 housing units and
approximately 24,000 retail establishments--department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and
other types of stores and service establishments. All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of
items are included in the index.
2
The index measures price changes from a designated reference date (1982-84) that equals 100.0. An
increase of 16.5 percent, for example, is shown as 116.5. This change can also be expressed in dollars as
follows: the price of a base period "market basket" of goods and services in the CPI has risen from $10 in
1982-84 to $11.65. For further details see the CPI home page on the Internet at www.bls.gov/cpi and the
BLS Handbook of Methods, Chapter 17, The Consumer Price Index, available on the Internet at
www.bls.gov/opub/hom/homch17_a.htm.
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each location are averaged together with
weights that represent their importance in the spending of the appropriate population group. Local data are
then combined to obtain a U.S. city average. Because the sample size of a local area is smaller, the local
area index is subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error than the national index. In
addition, local indexes are not adjusted for seasonal influences. As a result, local area indexes show greater
volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are quite similar. NOTE: Area indexes do
not measure differences in the level of prices between areas; they only measure the average change in
prices for each area since the base period.
The Denver-Boulder-Greeley, Colo., Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder,
Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, and Weld Counties in Colorado.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice
phone: 202-691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339
3
Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes for semiannual averages and
percent changes for selected periods Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted)
Semiannual average indexes
Item and Group
1st half
2014
2nd half
2014
Percent change to
1st half 2015 from1st half
2015
1st half
2014
2nd half
2014
Expenditure category
All Items.................................................................
All items (1967=100) .............................................
Food and beverages .............................................
Food ..................................................................
Food at home .................................................
Food away from home....................................
Alcoholic beverages ..........................................
Housing .................................................................
Shelter ...............................................................
235.736
786.082
220.829
224.114
223.094
223.785
194.746
217.608
243.324
238.664
795.845
223.174
226.578
225.387
229.736
195.977
223.700
250.116
238.086
793.916
223.736
227.437
225.198
230.357
193.601
227.027
256.699
1.0
-0.2
1.3
1.5
0.9
2.9
-0.6
4.3
5.5
0.3
0.4
-0.1
0.3
-1.2
1.5
2.6
Rent of primary residence (1) ..........................
248.529
256.586
263.978
6.2
2.9
Owners' equiv. rent of residences (1) (2) ..........
235.063
242.477
249.324
6.1
2.8
Owners' equiv. rent of primary residence
(2) ................................................................
235.063
242.477
249.324
6.1
2.8
Fuels and utilities...............................................
Household energy ..........................................
226.215
172.396
233.732
177.010
224.182
163.302
-0.9
-5.3
-4.1
-7.7
Energy services (1)......................................
170.662
175.496
161.987
-5.1
-7.7
Electricity (1) ............................................
168.603
172.524
165.588
-1.8
-4.0
(1) ...................
175.904
182.430
156.912
-10.8
-14.0
Household furnishings and operations ..............
Apparel ..................................................................
Transportation .......................................................
Private transportation ........................................
Motor fuel .......................................................
Gasoline (all types).....................................
118.479
103.545
268.342
265.961
282.665
280.378
118.731
103.888
260.907
259.152
268.803
266.547
116.980
101.779
239.740
234.482
191.159
189.438
-1.3
-1.7
-10.7
-11.8
-32.4
-32.4
-1.5
-2.0
-8.1
-9.5
-28.9
-28.9
Gasoline, unleaded regular (3) ................
276.526
262.312
185.042
-33.1
-29.5
Gasoline, unleaded midgrade (3) (4) ........
264.464
252.546
184.452
-30.3
-27.0
Gasoline, unleaded premium (3) .............
283.202
271.542
200.148
-29.3
-26.3
Medical Care .........................................................
504.300
511.545
523.475
3.8
2.3
Recreation (5) .........................................................
147.096
147.098
150.109
2.0
2.0
Education and communication (5) ..........................
123.986
126.711
125.479
1.2
-1.0
Other goods and services .....................................
350.399
347.705
353.874
1.0
1.8
235.736
175.779
152.114
188.627
115.440
287.809
238.664
174.699
149.448
185.233
113.476
294.263
238.086
168.205
139.787
166.570
112.378
298.921
1.0
-4.3
-8.1
-11.7
-2.7
3.9
-0.2
-3.7
-6.5
-10.1
-1.0
1.6
All items less medical care ....................................
All items less shelter..............................................
Commodities less food ..........................................
Nondurables ..........................................................
Nondurables less food...........................................
223.253
233.158
153.735
205.351
188.393
226.015
233.805
151.230
204.780
185.387
224.936
229.694
141.870
195.445
168.089
0.8
-1.5
-7.7
-4.8
-10.8
-0.5
-1.8
-6.2
-4.6
-9.3
Services less rent of shelter (2) ..............................
353.477
357.814
359.477
1.7
0.5
Services less medical care services......................
Energy ...................................................................
All items less energy .............................................
269.693
221.507
238.136
276.026
217.229
241.721
280.183
173.338
245.099
3.9
-21.7
2.9
1.5
-20.2
1.4
(1)
Utility (piped) gas service
Commodity and Service Group
All Items.................................................................
Commodities .....................................................
Commodities less food & beverages..............
Nondurables less food & beverages ..........
Durables .....................................................
Services.............................................................
Special aggregate indexes:
Note: See footnotes at end of table.
4
Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Indexes for semiannual averages and
percent changes for selected periods Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted) Continued
Semiannual average indexes
Item and Group
1st half
2014
All items less food and energy ..........................
2nd half
2014
241.306
245.099
Percent change to
1st half 2015 from1st half
2015
248.932
1st half
2014
2nd half
2014
3.2
Footnotes
(1) This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means
estimator.
(2) Index is on a November 1982=100 base.
(3) Special index based on a substantially smaller sample.
(4) Indexes on a December 1993=100 base.
(5) Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
5
1.6
Table 2. Consumer Price Index for Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Indexes for semiannual
averages and percent changes for selected periods Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO (1982-84=100 unless
otherwise noted)
Semiannual average indexes
Item and Group
1st half
2014
2nd half
2014
Percent change to
1st half 2015 from1st half
2015
1st half
2014
2nd half
2014
Expenditure category
All Items.................................................................
All items (1967=100) .............................................
Food and beverages .............................................
Food ..................................................................
Food at home .................................................
Food away from home....................................
Alcoholic beverages ..........................................
Housing .................................................................
Shelter ...............................................................
226.254
753.093
222.822
226.240
224.133
227.764
199.651
210.990
232.116
229.076
762.485
225.152
228.731
226.858
233.504
200.360
217.263
238.947
228.062
759.109
225.857
229.713
226.747
234.344
198.053
220.659
245.452
0.8
-0.4
1.4
1.5
1.2
2.9
-0.8
4.6
5.7
0.3
0.4
0.0
0.4
-1.2
1.6
2.7
Rent of primary residence (1) ..........................
248.529
256.586
263.978
6.2
2.9
Owners' equiv. rent of residences (1) (2) ..........
219.442
226.363
232.756
6.1
2.8
Owners' equiv. rent of primary residence (1)
(2) ................................................................
219.442
226.363
232.756
6.1
2.8
Fuels and utilities...............................................
Household energy ..........................................
220.671
171.097
228.105
175.661
218.298
162.113
-1.1
-5.3
-4.3
-7.7
Energy services (1)......................................
170.906
175.737
162.273
-5.1
-7.7
Electricity (1) ............................................
168.602
172.523
165.588
-1.8
-4.0
Utility (piped) gas service (1) ...................
175.905
182.432
156.913
-10.8
-14.0
Household furnishings and operations ..............
Apparel ..................................................................
Transportation .......................................................
Private transportation ........................................
Motor fuel .......................................................
Gasoline (all types).....................................
123.327
102.510
264.671
261.855
282.584
280.374
123.579
102.960
258.194
255.904
268.753
266.544
122.311
103.568
237.593
233.395
191.164
189.435
-0.8
1.0
-10.2
-10.9
-32.4
-32.4
-1.0
0.6
-8.0
-8.8
-28.9
-28.9
Gasoline, unleaded regular (3) ................
276.531
262.317
185.046
-33.1
-29.5
Gasoline, unleaded midgrade (3) (4) ........
264.464
252.546
184.452
-30.3
-27.0
Gasoline, unleaded premium (3) .............
283.241
271.580
200.176
-29.3
-26.3
Medical Care .........................................................
507.133
515.270
528.232
4.2
2.5
Recreation (5) .........................................................
127.978
128.808
131.437
2.7
2.0
Education and communication (5) ..........................
119.526
121.620
120.030
0.4
-1.3
Other goods and services .....................................
351.605
350.249
355.562
1.1
1.5
226.254
180.299
155.627
200.312
110.908
273.669
229.076
179.077
152.822
195.966
109.471
280.205
228.062
171.958
142.398
173.559
109.328
284.683
0.8
-4.6
-8.5
-13.4
-1.4
4.0
-0.4
-4.0
-6.8
-11.4
-0.1
1.6
All items less medical care ....................................
All items less shelter..............................................
Commodities less food ..........................................
Nondurables ..........................................................
Nondurables less food...........................................
215.473
226.624
156.930
215.073
199.457
218.126
227.131
154.258
214.047
195.513
216.676
222.286
144.142
202.865
174.686
0.6
-1.9
-8.1
-5.7
-12.4
-0.7
-2.1
-6.6
-5.2
-10.7
Services less rent of shelter (2) ..............................
318.846
323.152
324.030
1.6
0.3
Services less medical care services......................
Energy ...................................................................
256.375
228.462
262.713
223.922
266.698
178.354
4.0
-21.9
1.5
-20.3
Commodity and Service Group
All Items.................................................................
Commodities .....................................................
Commodities less food & beverages..............
Nondurables less food & beverages ..........
Durables .....................................................
Services.............................................................
Special aggregate indexes:
Note: See footnotes at end of table.
6
Table 2. Consumer Price Index for Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Indexes for semiannual
averages and percent changes for selected periods Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO (1982-84=100 unless
otherwise noted) - Continued
Semiannual average indexes
Item and Group
1st half
2014
All items less energy .............................................
All items less food and energy ..........................
2nd half
2014
226.824
227.502
230.414
231.297
Percent change to
1st half 2015 from1st half
2015
234.073
235.439
1st half
2014
2nd half
2014
3.2
3.5
Footnotes
(1) This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator. All other item stratum index series were calculated using a geometric means
estimator.
(2) Index is on a November 1984=100 base.
(3) Special index based on a substantially smaller sample.
(4) Indexes on a December 1993=100 base.
(5) Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
7
1.6
1.8